Recently, I had the privilege of editing my friend, Lee Baker's first novel, A Tour in Morocco. It's the tale of Airman Harold "Hal" Anderson, a green 19-year-old from the backwaters of West Virginia who learns about love and life in a once-in-a-lifetime duty assignment in exotic Morocco.

A work of fiction, tinged with autobiographical experiences, Baker said his book had "something for everyone ó suspense, romance, action, and mystery."

About writing, journalistWilliam Safire once observed, "When we are fired up with an idea, writing becomes less a chore than a mode of presentation; the way we spill out our notion can even be a pleasure."

In addition to duty in Morocco, Baker's distinguished 21-year career in the Air Force included a tour in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He said of his writing experience, "A Tour in Morocco is ... a book that grows on the reader to the point that itís wonderful if you read it through."